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New Year, New Me?

Why do people set themselves goals in the new year and what does it mean to be sober this month?

Drink Coach, Dry January and the other challenges people choose to take on in the new year. Did you know that approximately 8.8 million people in the UK were found to have participated in Dry January or a similar challenge?

Challenges like this, for a lot of people, is a chance to test ones will power and ability to stay sober for the month. This, in most cases, means that people will avoid going out to socialise, not going to parties, and not having a drink after a long day at work. Clubs, pubs, and bars also suffer from Dry January as they become incredibly quiet after the previously ‘rammed’ Christmas period. But why should you think about reducing your alcohol intake in January?

DrinkCoach, an online coaching tool developed by the charity Waythrough, take a habit breaking approach of small challenges throughout January. These include Glass Half Full – this challenge does what it says on the tin, halve your calories, units and spending by having half your usual glass. Social Sips aimed at those who may drink alone often, encouraging people to drink for occasion rather than habit. And Wine Free Weekdays, aimed at those who are wanting to break their daily drinking habits by cutting midweek drinking by a minimum of 2 days in a row to maximise the benefits.

The Dry January Challenge itself is a campaign created and delivered by the UK charity Alcohol Change UK. The phrase “Dry January” is registered under a trademark with Alcohol Change UK in 2014.

While Dry Jan is an effective way to promote a healthy relationship with drinking, it’s also important to listen to your own body. Some people may be dependent on alcohol, so to just go cold turkey may have some negative effects on the body and physical health. So have a think before you take on a challenge like this to make sure that it will be beneficial to you.

Dry January was created by the alcohol charity, Alcohol Change UK under the pretence that when someone partakes in the challenge, they are actively trying to recognise their relationship with alcohol and how it affects their day-to-day life and how dependent on drinking someone is. For example, a lot of university students will participate as a sort of ‘break’ from partying and so their bodies can detox after the Christmas period and before the final semester starts again.

What are some of the benefits of undertaking these types of challenges?

Some of the benefits for a month of no drinking are:

  • Lower blood pressure.

  • Can reduce the risk of diabetes.

  • Can lower cholesterol levels.

  • Can reduced the levels of cancer-related proteins found in blood.

As well as the physical benefits you may experience, some people may also find that they save lots of money in the month of Jan; everyone knows that drinking is expensive nowadays. If you want a visual incentive, it can be handy to withdraw the cash you’d usually spend on a night out and keep it in a piggy bank. Depending on your usual level of drinking, on alcohol in the home for a student in the UK is around £24, this can go up as high as £76 a week if you tend to go out out. This means that reducing your drinking in January could save you anything between £96-£304. Whether you choose to book some cheap Ryanair flights or invest in a gym membership, you’ve already paid for it through not drinking.

You may have also found you have a clearer mind and better mental health, less intense Sunday scaries, less hangover deliveroos, clearer skin and a better sleep pattern. All these things would free up energy to focus into starting the year off well, although we would encourage people to think about any of the challenges mentioned in this blog – not just in January but throughout the year.

 

Written by Charlotte Ollier and Rose Wyatt

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